NO COUP! Home-Based Action for a Full and Accurate Vote Count

Are you feeling increasingly concerned about the US commitment to Choose Democracy? Whoever you are, whatever your age or situation, you can take action! Yes! Even if you’re protecting your health by staying home in these difficult times, you can help Hold the Line for democratic elections and Protect the Vote!

The links above (and more below) go to websites for signing up, finding local connections, background information, scenarios, handbooks, media guides and more! Inform yourself, make choices, and take action.

Action is important – and so is thoughtfulness, leading to considered action that is broadly persuasive.

Reach out (and encourage others to do the same) to talk through ideas, emotions, and reactions. Our feelings are important, and talking about them with trusted others helps us to respond – rather than just react.

Here are additional specific key actions you can do!

Start now! –  

• Reach out and build connections – Prepare today 
• Determine where your influence can be effective – Recognize the tools you have 
• Use media resources – Choose your words and communicate 
• Inform yourself and others – But do not spread rumors or "news" you have not confirmed via reliable sources (ideally, multiple!)

Start preparing now for post-election weeks! Remember: Many key tasks can be done from home.  

 → Reach out TODAY to build connections with a diverse group of people to form a mutual support group! Some may differ politically and nonetheless be ready to act to defend election integrity. Build trust and connections! 

Prepare for uncertain weeks ahead. We all hope for a smooth and peaceful transition, but be prepared! Shop now for groceries, medications, gasoline, and more. Then, next week you’ll be able to focus on influential actions and helping others Òon the lineÓ. Plan ahead! Will you want to help by preparing food, baking, etc.? Get supplies.

 → Which civil structures – and which people in them – can you influence to take a stand for counting all the votes? 

• Media (see below!)
• Local government institutions and officials
• Churches and social organizations
• Educational institutions 
• Work places and labor groups – many labor groups are planning to stop working on Nov. 4 and continue if Trump tries to steal the election

Make a list of your intersections with these bodies: How can you involve them – and/or the people in them – in defending the vote? To whom can you reach out? 

Your tools include phone calls, social media, emails, personal connections, and your abilities! As a part of a support structure, a base for information and communications, and an influence in the community, you can be a resource for those in the streets, taking direct nonviolent actions.

 → Be ready to make use of media! Send out or start drafting social media posts, letters to the editor, and even emails to friends and family.

Think about how you can move readers, including your friends, to act constructively in the coming days. Start writing down what you want to say, to be clear and articulate. Write it out for yourself, too!

For social media, for the press, for chance conversations – 

Be Ready with Well Considered Points Using These Key Approaches:

• Motivating: What’s important to them? What do they care about?
• Encouraging: They are not alone; now is the time to unite with others and act to protect what’s important! Their actions can make a difference! 
• Modeling: Your tone is a model! Seek to inspire compassion, hope, nonviolence, and belief in positive outcomes based on doable actions. Be specific: List or describe the positive actions they can take; 
• Showing compassion; supporting discourse rather than division: People are doing the best they can for what they believe is right. With some people, listening with an open heart can help make conversation possible. That can open the way to better mutual understanding.  After the elections are over, we’ll want to find some ways we can work together. 

 → Inform yourself and others to help remain rational and calm as we live through these difficult times of pandemic and mounting stress. Do not spread rumors! You can help vet information and, then inform yourself and others. 

Confirm "news" via reliable sources (ideally, multiple!) before you share it! See the background information in WILPF’s alert, "What are you going to do to ‘Protect the Results’?" View Van Jones good-modeling video on the legalities of the possible election process developments. 

To find out what’s happening in your area, seek out local groups working in coalition to Protect the Vote. (Nationally, nearly 200 groups are already partnering!)

We can all participate in meaningful ways to preserve the basis for a democratic future.

Darien De Lu
President, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom US
President@wilpfus.org